I sublease a lot for business keeping yourself several months in a place. I adhere to some of your ideas - some of my ideas would be candle lights or incense for making it scent more like residential, some fresh bouquets to brighten it up and a wine bottle if neither of these do the trick. If it is corporate housing than some of those inexpensive cottons throws over beige furniture helps a lot. I don't perspire most of the stuff, even bed sheets and bath towels, I don't purchased it so...I just enjoy a decor I would not pick personally.